BWSL Meeting Minutes

11.15.2010

 

I –Roll Call:

Teams Present:  Sisterhood, Rocking Flamingos, Lunachicks, X’treme, Renegades, Ravens, Fury, Red Bulls and Seahawks

Teams Absent: None

 

 

II – Communication Reports from Board Members:

 

A.    President: Ericka Barquin: nothing to report

 

B.     Vice President: Jen Pudsey: nothing to report

 

C.     Treasurer: Michelle Fratina: nothing to report

 

D.    Secretary:  Tania Rivera: nothing to report

 

E.     Registrar: Teresa Mujica: nothing to report

 

F.      FSSA Liaison: Heather Anquillare: absent

 

G.    Referee’s Liaison: Marie Amatulli: nothing to report

 

H.    Games Rules Chairperson: Debbie Chin: nothing to report

 

I.       Marketing, Growth and Promotions Chairperson: Sophia Peters

 

 

III – Unfinished Business: 

 

A.    Playoffs:

1.      Games will consist of two 25 minute halves with a 5 minute half time.  We need to start games exactly on time as there is no leeway between games.

2.      The second day of playoffs, December 5th, will also be Fun Day.

                                                                          i.      Each team is being asked to bring some kind of side dish to share with everyone. 

                                                                        ii.      The league will supply sandwich platters and soft drinks.

                                                                      iii.      Teresa will ask the park to supply tables and possibly tents.

                                                                      iv.      There will be “Thank You” gifts for all of the players.  It was decided to go with hand towels that will have the league logo printed on them.

1.      Teresa will check into the cost of these at Shirts R Us and report back to the Board.

B.     Jewelry

1.      After our meeting last month, we had determined that we would allow jewelry that cannot be easily removed to be worn during games as long as it was covered. 

2.      Derrick checked with the state referee board and there is no way that we can change our rules to accommodate this exception.  The state referees association will not allow the rule to be changed and if any refs allow it and something happens to the player, the player can sue the ref and the state would not back them up.

3.      Therefore, we cannot change our rules to accommodate this if we want to still be associated with the state associations for leagues and referees.

 

IV – New Business: 

 

A.    Field and Park:

1.      The referees have reported that the condition of the nets on the goals is really bad.  There are many holes and they are not able to be tied down properly.  We need to speak to the park about either fixing the nets or replacing them.

2.      It was reported that the main entrance gate has been closed during the second game.  This has occurred a couple of times in the past few weeks.  People coming to watch the games or pick up players have had to come into the park through the exit gate.

B.     Referees:

1.      It was suggested that we should consider using a rating system for the referees.

                                                                          i.      Each team would have a score card for each of their games throughout the season and would rate the refs from each of their games.

                                                                        ii.      At the end of the season, the League would make recommendations to Derrick about which refs should not be asked back.

                                                                      iii.      This was tabled for now and can be re-addressed at a later time if someone wants to submit a formal proposal.

2.      Respect for the referees:

                                                                          i.      The players need to understand the correct way to approach a ref when there is an infraction or rule issue.

                                                                        ii.      Yelling or berating the ref is not the appropriate way to deal with the ref.  More than likely, this will end up in the player being carded. 

                                                                      iii.      Each ref calls things differently and players need to respect the referees.

3.      Fury – Renia

                                                                          i.      Renia had some complaints about a specific referee that they have had a few times this season, Christopher.

                                                                        ii.      She had 2 players that have been playing all season with a prescription knee brace and when Christopher was the ref for their game, he said they could not play unless the knee brace was covered with a sleeve.  No other ref the entire season had enforced this rule and the players were not aware that the knee brace needed to be covered.  When asked if they could play this game as is and have it covered for the next, Christopher said no.

                                                                      iii.      It was suggested that we should add consistent issues and their FIFA rules to our website so that all players and referees would be aware of the FIFA rules that governs that issue and would be properly informed ahead of time.

 

C.     Red Bulls vs. X’Treme 11/14/10:

1.      There was an issue with the fans of the Red Bulls that caused the referee for this game to end the game early and call it a forfeit against the Red Bulls.

2.      There was a player for the Red Bulls, Victoria Burgess, who was red carded during the game because of the issues that were occurring on the sidelines with the fans, which were her family.

3.      The league listened to both sides of the account of what happened at the game.  As there were no board members actually present at the game as witnesses, The Board relied upon the official report from the referee and the accounts from the 2 Red Bulls players who were at the meeting, Victoria Burgess and Michelle Fratina, as well as the opposing team players from X’Treme, Melissa Casey and Sophia Peters, to make a determination of the events of the game and the possible fines and disciplinary actions that need to be taken.

4.      After listening to all sides, the Board determined that the referee report would stand as the official account of the game and the forfeit would stand, awarding X’Treme with a win and 10 points for the forfeit.

5.      However, the Board did determine that the fine levied against the Red Bulls for not controlling their fans and causing the ref to have to call the game, $25, would not be assessed.

6.      The player that received the red card, Victoria Burgess, will be required to pay the $25 fine and will be suspended for 2 games, as stated in the rules.

7.      No arbitration of the red card was requested so it stands.

 

D.    Spring Registration:

1.      Spring Season will start on February 13th, after the Super Bowl unless the park availability changes.

2.      Ericka will check with the park about any conflicts. 

3.      If we start on Feb 13, the end of the season would be April 17th, if there are no rainouts.  We would play straight through with no holiday breaks.  Easter Sunday is April 24th.  If rainout make-ups are necessary, we could push the end of the season to May 1st.

 

 

 

NEXT MEETING:  MONDAY, DECEMBER 13TH AT 6:30PM AT TERESA’S HOUSE

 

ALL BOARD MEMBERS AND TEAM REPS MUST BE AT THE MEETING.  TEAMS WITHOUT REPRESENTATION WILL BE FINED PER LEAGUE RULES.